Chairs hire
Folding, Chiavari and limewash, one per seated guest plus spares. Delivered, set up and collected by suppliers who cover your patch.
Chair hire typically costs £1.50 to £3 per folding chair and £4.50 to £8 per Chiavari or limewash chair. Order one per seated guest plus 5 percent spares. A ceremony plus dinner usually reuses the same chairs if staff can move them during drinks.
Chairs are the largest single quantity on most kit lists and the most style-sensitive item after the marquee lining. Folding chairs do fetes, funerals and festivals; Chiavari and limewash do weddings; bistro and cross-back do the rustic middle. The count is simple (one per bottom) but the moves are not: if the ceremony and dinner are in different spaces, either hire two sets or schedule a chair move during the drinks reception.
PLANNING RATIOOne chair per guest for seated events; about 0.3 per guest for standing events with perching room.
What it costs
| Item | Typical guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Folding chair (plastic/steel) | £1.50–£3 | |
| Bistro / cafe chair | £3–£5.50 | |
| Chiavari with seat pad | £4.50–£8 | |
| Limewash / cross-back | £5–£9 | |
| Bench, 6ft (seats 3–4) | £8–£15 |
Guide prices exclude VAT and vary with season, region and site access. Quotes from suppliers are always the real number.
Chairs hire across the launch corridor
Local pages for every corridor town, with the same honest ratios and local site knowledge.
Chairs hire: questions organisers ask
How many chairs do I need for a standing reception?
Plan seating for about 30 percent of guests: a 150-person drinks reception is comfortable with 45 to 50 seats spread across poseur stools, benches and lounge corners. Everyone standing for three hours is a hosting mistake the over-60s will remember.
What is the difference between Chiavari and limewash chairs?
Both are wedding-grade wooden chairs. Chiavari has the vertical spindle back and comes in gold, silver or natural, usually with a tie-on pad. Limewash Camelot chairs have a softer washed-oak look. Pricing is similar: choose on photos of your actual venue.
